Graeme and his staff at Salford Van Hire
Graeme Gaffney, manager, from Royton
concerned about his staff
"I’ve got two young boys at home, one’s six, the others 11 months. And like everybody else, we’re feeling the pinch. Even your weekly shopping trolley is getting emptier. You tend to be looking at the lower price brands rather than the mainstream brands. And along with rising fuel costs, it’s making things very difficult. To be honest, I’m worried about the staff here and how they’re going to cope. It’s affecting all of them. And it’s going to get worse before it gets better."
Sharon Slater
Sharon Slater, 31, from Ashton
turning to terry nappies
"What with the baby coming, we’ve really had to cut back. I’ve got 14 weeks before we go down to one salary. I was hoping to take 12 months off but I’m wondering: can I afford to be off for a whole year? And then there’s all the baby stuff: clothes, bottles, steriliser. I’ve been getting what I can at the sales but the cost of it all: I’m even going down the road of washable terry nappies, things are so tight. My partner, Simon, is a joiner in Oldham. We did have two cars but we’ve had to sell the smaller one because we just can’t afford to run it anymore. Fortunately, his younger brother works here, so me and Daz car share in the week. I’m originally from Leeds but you can’t be bobbing up and down the motorway to see family when you like because we just can’t afford to."
Bob Hines
Bob Hines, 60, from Ashton
Staying vigilant in the shops
"I think where we’re really feeling it is in the cost of food and fuel. Gas and electricity bills have gone up substantially over the past year. And coming to work is costing another £6 a week in petrol. My wife does the main shop and what she does now is compare the prices at the supermarkets to get the best deals. It’s a case of being more vigilant about spending. One time, we used to think, it’s a nice day, and we’d jump in the car and go for a drive up to the reservoirs. But not anymore."
Michael Heenan
Michael Heenan, 38, from Farnworth
joining the fuel protest
"Where normally we’d have a spare cash at the end of the month for a day out or a meal, it’s not there anymore. I took a drop in salary to come here to cut down on my fuel bill and, to start with, I was gaining. But the extra money is being clawed back now. One of the daughters works in a supermarket and let’s us know when there’s offers on so we take advantage – you have to. Fridays used to be takeaway night but that’s maybe once every three weeks now. We were due to go on holiday to Bulgaria but we’ve cancelled that. And with a new baby coming along, it’ll be tent or caravan holidays from now on. Driving to work, I’m very light on the throttle now and I even free wheel downhill. Every week, I see it as a challenge to get as many miles per gallon as I can. I’m trying everything I can because a full tank of fuel now is £60. To be honest, I’m going to join the next fuel protest. I’ve never done ‘owt like that before but you have to do something. We can’t afford to go on like this."Ìý
Darren Watson
Darren Watson, 22, from Ashton
car sharing/ drinking at home
"I still live at home with my parents but I’ve got a little lad who lives with his mother, It’s buying him things and he’s always asking: ‘Can we do this Daddy?’ And sometimes you have to say ‘no’. I’d like to get my own place and with house prices dropping, now's the ideal time. But trying to find the deposit - it’s not happening, know what I mean? Every penny I save, I’m spending on petrol or taking my son out. I very rarely see the pub nowadays. I used to go out every Thursday and Saturday but it’s cheaper to go to the supermarket and get aÌý crate in. Me and Sharon have started car sharing which used to save £20 each a week on petrol. But with costs going up, we’re saving to stand still. I’ve paid for my holiday this year, we’re going to Portugal. But I can’t see me going abroad next year. It’ll probably be a week to Wales or somewhere."
Graham 'Johnno' Johnstone
Graham Johnstone, 61, from Clifton
can’t afford to retire yet
"What really worries me at my age is retirement. In four years time, I’ll be retiring and with the pension that I’ve got now, I’m just concerned whether it’ll be enough. We’re looking for a budget supermarket, to save on the food bill. Petrol: we used to jump in the car to go down the local shops but now we walk. Things like that. They’re talking about the gas and electricity going up 40% - what’s it going to be like when the winter comes? It’s worrying. We love going out for meals but we’re going to have cut down. Holidays, we’ve had two this year. Next year, it’ll be one and probably a week instead of a couple. I’m 61 and I thought I was going to finish work about now. I’d worked all me life for it, I’d got a private pension and I thought: that’ll do me nice. But now I think I’ll have to work ‘til I’m 65. I own my own house but I’m thinking: will my little nest egg be enough for a nice life or will we just exist?"
